The Rugby gazette and east Tennessee news. (Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn.) 1884-188?, 1887-03-19

salvation OF humanity by Divine agency, thrc sgh
the salvation Of individuals, was to him the
great END to be obtained, but the means to this
eho was problem, the completely Of
winch rendered him, as he neared the close of
MS theological course, the victim of deep de-
preston and doubt" After leaving college he
| received u call to Lawrenceburg Ind Thence
ne was caued to indianapolis where, with his
wi1e, whom he had married before leaving Gin
cinnatl, he lived simple, wholesome life of the
most intense activity. From Indianapolis, after
elgnt years OF happy ministry, he was called to
plymouth Church, in Brooklyn. He began his
pastoral duties In Orange street, Brooklyn on
Sunday morning, October 10, 184T.
Inc church to which Mr.. Beecher had been
called owed its origin to two facts In 1915 there
were but thirty nine churches In Brooklyn,
CITY then OF nearly sixty thousand inhabitants,
ana OF these churches but one was Congrega-
gationnl The need of more societies of this
denomination was obvious, and was met by
prompt action on the part Of several prominent
Christian gentlemen.
reports OF the popularity and renown of Mr..
beecher, OF indianapolis, had already aroused
eastern interest In the man and his preachings,
and through the influence OF his friend and ad-
vocate, Mr.. William p. Cutter, OF New York,
MI beecher, who was then in that city, YVES
asked to preside at the opening Of the new Con.
gregational Church in Brooklyn, May IS, 1847.
MI beecher's discourses produced a strong i'm
preston upon his audience, and at subsequent
meeting in June, 1847, at which the name of Ply
mouth Church was adopted, he was elected unan-
imously by the society to the pastorate, and an
immediate invitation was given him to assume
tne position. In March, 1S49 the pastor was to
Ken with severe illness, which confined him to
tne house for two months and disabled him
from preaching until September, nor did he ro-
cover his full strength until the winter. In
Jnne, 1850, the society, Of its own accord, gave
MIN leave OF absence to visit Europe, and he
did not return until September In 1885 the So
clety, at the request of number of eminent
clergymen and others, voted him leave of alb
sence to traverse the country in behalf of the
cause OF Liberty, then felt to BIO in peril In
june, 1863, the society requested him to revisit
europe for his health, which he did, returningin
november With these exceptions the pastor
mas iaDored steadily at his post since 1S47 at all
times other than the regular summer vacation
winch lasts on the average six weeks.
several inducements were held out to Mr..
Beecher to leave Plymouth Church, but in vain.
In 1870 Mr.. Beecher was editor in chief and
principal owner Of the Christian Union, which
was then rapidly increasing its circulation and
influence. He had been formerly the editor of
the independent journal Of similar character.
the editorial chair of which he resigned in favor
of Theodore Tilton
what is known as the Beecher-Tilton scandal
Is still fresh In the mind of the newspaper
reader. Mr.. Beecher submitted the whole mat.
Ter TO .he investigation Of a committee consist.
ing OF some OF the most eminent and respected
members OF his church and society. They re.
ported unanimously, after giving Mr.. Tilton1a
Iull hearing, that the charge was entirely false,
and this report was unanimously adopted by the |
church and congregation.
Mr. Beecher's four children are all grown up |
and married His eldest son, Colonel Henry |
Barton Beecher, is q well-known insurance |
man in Brooklyn. Major William G. Beecher |
Is lawyer, and the youngest, Herbert |
beecher, Is Collector of Customs at Port. |
and, Ore. His only daughter is married |
70 New England clergyman, Rev. Mr..
ocoville. Mr.. Beecher spent his sum.
ners at his country home at Peekskill, on the
hudson. Here his farm has one of the rarest
and hnest collections OF trees and shrubs to be
ound on any private American demesne.
MI. Beecher stood without rival as a pulpit
'rator; ne was an ardent lover of nature in all
Ter moods; his theology embraced oil sects; he
vas wonderful social and POLITICAL force when
10 chose to exercise his strength in these spheres
lis style OF oratory was dramatic, but never the
'trcai; MS intuition was rapid and accurate;
lis analytic powers never took the direction OF
DISTRACTIONS; he was intensely practical; his
PERSONAL magnetism was large; illustrations by
metaphors and comparison came natural to him:
le had the keenest sense Of humor; in word,
10 was giant among the intellectual giants OF
lis day.